As a merchant, it was probably proper, but Boz inadvertently let his true feelings slip out due to the store clerk’s smile, which, due to his prior experience, seemed untrustworthy.
“….Is this a decent shop?”
To that question, the clerk—Et—collapsed from his knees.
“Ugh, ugh… Y-yes, you’re right. It certainly looks suspicious no matter how you look at it…”
“O-oh…?”
Boz’s reply was tinged with confusion at Et’s melancholic appearance.
Perhaps because he saw that, the woman from the shop counter—Franca—came out and patted Et on the shoulder as if to comfort him.
“Ah, sir. Since you’ve come for the first time, let’s do our best!”
“R-right! I’m so sorry!”
Encouraged by Franca’s comfort, Et quickly stood up and bowed his head towards Boz.
For both Et and Franca, this was their first customer since being assigned to the shop. They were determined not to miss this opportunity. Of course, they maintained a professional merchant demeanor, not betraying their excitement.
Boz, completely disarmed by the clerk’s reaction, looked around the shop. From a distance, it seemed to be filled with magic tools, but there seemed to be something else there as well.
“…And, I’ll ask just in case, but this is a shop, right?”
“Yes, that’s correct. There’s no mistake… We are well aware that it’s extremely suspicious.”
Boz tilted his head at Et, who had pointed out the shop’s oddities himself.
“Normally, I’d think a merchant wouldn’t say things that put themselves at a disadvantage?”
“You are absolutely correct… However, I am merely an employee, and there’s nothing more I can do.”
Boz, who had assumed Et was the shop owner, looked at him with a hint of pity. Knowing that Et was an employee and couldn’t freely control the shop evoked some sympathy in him.
Although he had been somewhat overwhelmed by the shop’s atmosphere, Et’s demeanor had put Boz completely at ease. He then looked around.
“What kind of things do you have?”
To Boz’s question, Et’s demeanor instantly shifted to that of a professional merchant.
“Well, basically, we stock magic tools… but for adventurer customers like yourself, how about something from this section?”
With those words, Et began enthusiastically recommending items to Boz.
While Et was recommending products, Boz was inwardly astonished. He didn’t outwardly show his surprise to avoid giving Et, a merchant, any leverage in their transaction. Years of activity as an adventurer had honed this skill.
However, Boz’s efforts were rendered almost meaningless by the situation. Because…
“Huh…?! That charm with that kind of effect is that price!?”
“Yes. If I raised the price any further, my owner would be angry with me.”
Et said this with a wry smile, and Boz looked at him again in disbelief. Frankly, it wasn’t just a rip-off; the prices were so low it was a wonder the shop could stay in business.
What was even more surprising was that although the shop area didn’t seem particularly large, if Boz requested it, magic items with effects even superior to what he was looking for were produced one after another at unbelievable prices.
“Hmm… I want all of them, but unfortunately, I don’t have much money on me.”
Boz said this clearly, implying he wanted them held for him. Et immediately understood, but his expression turned ambiguous, and he shook his head.
“Unfortunately, it’s uncertain whether or not you’ll be able to enter this shop again soon.”
Boz almost dismissed Et’s words.
After repeating Et’s words in his mind, Boz looked at him with a perplexed expression.
“…What do you mean?”
“I don’t know the details myself, but it seems uncertain whether or not you’ll be able to find the entrance you used to get here again.”
Hearing Et’s explanation, Boz wore an indescribable expression. Normally, he would have dismissed it as nonsense, but considering the strange cloth he had passed through and the inexplicable phenomena he experienced on the way into the shop, it wasn’t an impossible scenario. …Boz understood.
Boz let out a large sigh and nodded with an expression of deep regret.
“…I see.”
This time, it was Et who looked slightly puzzled by the reply.
“You can believe such a story?”
Boz almost said, “It’s your shop, isn’t it?” but then remembered Et was just an employee and returned a wry smile.
“Ah. After being an adventurer for a long time, you hear about these strange stories often. I’ve actually experienced some myself… Though, this is my first time experiencing something like this within town.”
“…Is that so.”
To Boz’s sincere words, Et nodded with a serious expression. Et had been told that customers who entered this shop were “chosen ones.” He hadn’t doubted Kousuke’s direct words, but hearing Boz’s story now made him truly realize it. Despite all that had happened, Boz’s immediate and calm reaction showed the extent of his experience. Of course, it was also understood to some extent from their conversation that he had no personality issues.
Et admired the place created by the Avatar, but he still couldn’t completely trust him. This wasn’t because he doubted the Avatar, but because he knew people’s eyes would change when they saw things that surpassed their common sense. He didn’t think a god would miss something like that, but his merchant instincts made him observe people from a distance. By the way, Kousuke and the others entrusted the shop to Et with this in mind, so it was a mutual understanding.
Regardless of Et’s principles, Boz was clearly going to be a valued customer, as understood from their conversation so far. Therefore, Et began recommending magic tools and recovery potions that might be useful in the future, while estimating Boz’s financial situation.
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After much deliberation, Boz decided to purchase one magic tool, emptying almost all the money in his wallet to do so. He wished he could have withdrawn money from the guild and returned to the shop, but unfortunately, as the shop owner had said, that wasn’t permitted.
As Boz left the shop and passed back through the peculiar cloth, he looked back. The cloth had already vanished, and he was back on his usual path. Boz was half convinced that the shop owner had been telling the truth, and the other half was filled with regret as he recalled the various magic tools in the shop. If he believed the shop owner’s words again, it would be quite difficult to visit that nameless shop.
Several days after Boz entered that mysterious shop, a rumor about a certain shop began to circulate in town.
This was Boz and Et’s (and Franca’s) first encounter! The ending is as usual (?), so it’s only a few lines. The final story of this chapter will probably be about a lord being toyed with.
*The next update will be on Monday, June 26th.
